Commodore



UNITED STATES PATENTWOFFICE COMMODORE O. P. I-IOlVELL, 'OF IVASHINGTON,DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA."

COMPOSITE FUEL AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,495, dated May 9,1899. Application filed March 21, 1899. Serial No. 799,961. (Nospecimens.l

T0 (bZZ whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, COMMODORE O. P. HOWELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residin g at Washington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Composite Fuel and Processes ofMaking the Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a composite or artificial fuel in whichpulverized coal forms the base or principal ingredient. In this class offuel the pulverized coal is mixed with materials or ingredients usuallyof a much more inflammable character, which while aiding combustion ofthe coal also acts as a binding medium for retaining the mass inthe'form of blocks or briquets into which it is compressed for use.

In all prior compositions of this character to which my knowledgeextends the materials or ingredients forming the binder have been ofsuch a character as to cause or allow the mass to disintegrate from theheat of the fire long before the larger portion of the coal has beenheated to a degree sufficient to cause combustion or to coke the mass,which would result in retaining it in its original shape until entirelyconsumed.

The object sought by me is a composite fuel, of which pulverized coal isthe base or principal ingredient, which will be highly inflammable, andyet retain the form into which it is compressed a sufficient length oftime While burning to insure complete combustion of all its parts, andwhich may be manufactured at small cost and be highly satisfactory inuse.

The ingredients of which my fuel is composed are pulverized coal,fat-pine excelsior or excelsior and rosin, and fiber of the Mexicancactus, treated and mixed in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Fat-pine excelsior is selected by me because ofits large percentage ofrosin. Excelsior of white pine or other wood may be employed with fairlygood results if first saturated with rosin; but the best results willaccrue from the use of fat-pine exoelsior as treated by me.

Rosin has been employed as a binding medium in a large number of priorcompositions;

but in. almost every instance the rosin alone is relied upon to bind themass together. By

the use of fat-pine excelsior or excelsior and rosin, thoroughly massedthroughout the block or briquet into which the compositionis'compressed, a binding effect is attained which is not possible withrosin alone or with rosin and sawdust or wood in other form, and

the mass is rendered much more inflammable.

Excelsior and rosin combined with pulverized coal and compressed intosuitable blocks forms in itself a highly satisfactory fuel; but I havefound that by the addition thereto of fiber of the Mexican cactus themass is retained in-shape for a much longer time while burning and thecoal consequently morethoroughly consumed. This I attribute to the slowburnin g character of the cactus fiber due to its low percentage ofcarbon, and in order that this fiber may be freed as far as possiblefrom the rosin of the compound I use fatpine excelsior, which containsrosin in sufficient. amount, or I treat excelsior with rosin separatelyfrom the other ingredients of the compound, as will be hereinafterdescribed. The Mexican cactus fiber is used in lengths varying from oneand one half to three inches and is incorporated with the coal in aboutequal quantity with the excelsior and performs the same function inholding the mass together; but I have found that by itsuse the massremains in shape for a longer time while burning than where theexcelsior alone is used and that complete combustion of the particles ofcoal is practically attained.

In the manufacture of the composition I prefer to first treat thefat-pine excelsior to a process of evaporation to free it of a low gradeof rosin, and thus free the compound as far as possible from smoke andobjectionable odor.

This evaporation of the excelsior may be accomplished by exposing it todry air for a sufficient length of time or by any well-known apparatususually employed for such purposes. A high grade of melted rosin is thenpoured or sprinkled over the mass of excelsior, using about one ounce ofrosin to one pound of the excelsior. Where white-pine excelsior is used,no evaporating process will be required; but rosin is incorporatedtherewith in the manner above described before it is mixed with theother ingredients of the compound and a larger, percentage of rosinshould be used to saturate "the excelsior,

which should also be heated to facilitate the absorption of rosin. Toninety-four pounds of pulverized coal I add three pounds of the preparedexcelsior and three pounds of the Mexican cactus fiber. These are putinto a highly-heated receptacle and stirred until the mass is thoroughlymixed after which it is pressed while hot in suitable molds and allowedto cool.

In practice I employ a heating and mixing receptacle in the form of ahorizontal cylinder. conveyed through pipes surrounding the cylinderbeneath a metallic jacket covered with asbestos. Within the cylinder isarranged a Worm-screw, which is revolved to mix the heated compound andalso to force itthrough an opening in one end of the cylinder, where itis received by molding apparatus and compressed into proper shape.

The object in first incorporating the rosin with the excelsior is toprevent as far as possible the absorption of rosin by the cactus fiberduring the heating and mixing process. The rosin contained in thefat-pine excelsior or that added in its treatment I have foundsufficient to thoroughly unite the mass when compressed hot undermoderate pressure, and whileI do not limit myself to exact proportionsof any of the ingredients employed those stated have been found by me togive the most satisfactory results.

Having thus described my invention, what This cylinder is heated by livesteam- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A composite fuel composed of pulverized coal, excelsior, rosin, andfiber of the Mexican cactus.

' 2. A composite fuel composed of'pulverized coal, fat-pine excelsior,and fiber of the Mexican cactus compressed into blocks orbriquets,substantially as described.

3. The process of making composite fuel which consists in incorporatingrosin with excelsior, then mixing the excelsior thus prepared withpulverized coal and fiber of the Mexican cactus, subjecting the mixtureto heat, and while the same is still hot, molding it into suitableblocks.

4. The process of making composite fuel which consists in evaporatingfat-pine excelsior to free it of a low grade of resin, thenincorporating therewith rosin of a higher grade,

then mixing the excelsior thus prepared with pulverized coal and fiberof the Mexican cactus, subjecting the mixture to heat, and while thesame is still hot, molding it into suitable blocks.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set COMMODORE O. P. HO\VELL.

Witnesses:

HOWELL BARTLE, O. A. NEALE.

